Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-18

1887.
question is imminent and where the responsibility
rests.
DISCUSSING THE SITUATION.
An animated discussion followed Mr.. Darling
tons statements, the members endorsing Mr.. Dar-
lington's statement to the subcommittee.
Mr.. Curtis believed the minds OF the subcommit-
present administration Of the public schools He
nad noticed that in the formation OF citizens COM
the schools was selected as committee schools.
Mr. Darlington said Senator Dawes remarked
that he and other Senators would not vote dol
dations for all the children had been provided,
saying that the wealth OF the city was in Its child
preted Mr. ar' Pumb ans M a
grade.
Mr.. Fish referred to the situation as a crisis in
school affairs He expressed regret that any ror-
ton OF the country should be represented by such
intelligent Senators but found hope in the fact
that Mr. Plumb did not constitute the whole Con-
gress. Mr.. johnson thought the position taken by
the Senate subcommittee threatened great danger
MI. ozark remarked that teachers salaries were
to 1877.
ENDORSING Mr. DARLINGroNs STATEMENT.
MI. Ross offered resolution which was adopted,
''that the board OF trustees has heard with sur
prise OF the statements made to the president OF
the board and the superintendent by the sub
committee OF the Senate; that said committee be-
ueved statements made to them, that children re-
sldlng In washington have been denied admission
BOARD Is grateful to the president of the board and
10 the superintendent for their defense OF the
cause OF the teachers and OF the schools, and
neart1y endorse the truth OF the statements made
by them to the said subcommittee as reported to-
night. namely, that no Child OF proper school age
mas Deen refused admission to the public schools
or left unprOvided with competent teacher for
every school hour OF every school day OF the year.
ana Inat the only curtailment OF the school life OF
PROVIDE sumcient buildings for school purposes"
TO PREPARE A MEMORIAL
upon motion OF Mr.. Fish, the president OF the
board was deputed to prepare memorial to present
TO Congress and the people on this subject, and
the board adjourned
What Commissioner Webb Says.
NO CHILDREN DENIED ADMISSION TO THE sCHOoL-THE
QUESTION OF TEACHERS SALARIES, ETC.
Commissioner Webb, when asked by a STAR re-
porter to-day as to the version OF the interview
with Senator Plumb, given to the school board by
Mr.. Darlington, said that it was substantially
true, according to his recollection but omitted one
tr1ct authorities had put sixteen youths on the
roll Of teachers in order to fill out the appropria-
uOns. The Commissioners, however, were informed
by superintendent Powell that there was not q
single teacher employed who did not hold a teach
ers' certificate and had not passed the teachers
examination as prescribed by herules. The school
board, Mr. Webb said, had charge OF the schools
and he, as District Commissioner, was not per-
sonally acquainted with all the details concerning
them, but SO far as his knowledge went he believed
there was no truth in the statement made to the
Senate subcommittee that children had been de-
nied,admission to the schools. No complaint had
been made to the Commissioners that children en-
titled to admission had been excluded. Mr.. Webb,
who was present at the interview described by
Nj: Darlington said q, he he did l.I not remember
toned. Senator Plumb did speak OF Mr..
Emery. Mr.. Webb did not know from whom the
statements upon which the subcommittee based
its conclusions had come. ''We have been met
everywhere he said, ''by some hostile influence.
When we were before the House committee we
found that they had been there. 1t is singular, :"
observed Mr.. Webb, "that SO many good citizens
OF the District will see these things going on and
never come forward. On the other hand, there are
men who come here the moment the Commission
ers do anything; who go before Congress con-
stantly; who get before the congressional commit
tees before we have had chance to have a
hearing, and continually emDarrass the Commits
SiOnerS."
When asked by STAR reporter as to the state
the interest of the High school and higher grades
to the injury of the lower grade schools, Nj. Webb
positively declared that such was not the case.
The High school, he said, was established by those
who were tnimical to the present school manage
ment, the former trustees. 1t their pride-ther
nantng They mad eTscSea the build
enJ Commissioners had taken IL as they had found
It and endeavOred to provide for its maintenance.
"An have done for the High school," remarked
the Commissioner, "haS been to put a little work.
shop in the basement for the manual training Of
the boys. We have not neglected the lower grade
schools, but have done all we could to secure lib
eral provision for them" Mr.. Webb said that he
would acknowledge that he never fully cOmpre-
hended the system that prevailed for appropriat-
ing for and paying teachers, this apprOpriating q
lump sumiOr certain number OF teachers, The
salaries not to exceed a certain average. He had
endeavOred to change this by classifying teachers
apcOrdinp their salaries and he thought sit
would be better If the appropriations were made
specifically for SO many teachers OF each class, the
class representing the amount OF pay received.
This would simplify school administration cOnSid-
erably. Under the classification Of teachers Sala-
ries made by MI. Webb there % Were twenty-five
classes to correspond with the salaries then exist
ing. He thought it better, perhaps, to reduce the
Of SO many. one Of the members of the
Senate subcommittee, Mr.. Dawes, had suggested
that they should provide for SO many teachers
under $4OO and SO many teachers under 500, fix
ing the number OF teachers TO which such salaries
should be paid. He thought that Mr.. Darlington
may have misunderstood me proP9Slaioai about
at 500. Such plan, II adopted, would, he
thought, do great injury to the schools.
What Commissioner Ludlow Says.
HE THINKS THE SCHOOL BOARD PERHAPS ACTED A
LITTLE HASTILY.
Commissioner Ludlow when asked to-day about
public school matters and Senator Plumb's posi-
acted little hastily. The remarks made by Mr..
Plumb, he said were more In the nature OF cursory
suggestions He spoke his mind, as 1t was at that
mOnent and the statement should not have been
taken as the nnal Judgment OF the
subcommittee. To take the senator up in
SUCH a public way, might have the effect
only OF fixing him in an attitude which he might
have been induced to change, upon a proper repre-
sentatlon OF facts. 1t might be, said Col Ludlow,
that there had been tendency to encourage the
high schools and schools OF the higher grades,
and in that connection the question came up
whether the character OF the population here was
not such as to make q demand for schools Of that
Character Then the question arises whether
there has been any neglect in providing for the
lower grade schools. As matter OF fact. a
force OF teachers sufficient In number 10 provide
for all the chiloren was provided but
children For years the District authorities had
endeavOred to secure needed accommodations
Some years ago commission reported that, in
order to provide accommodations for the con-
stantly increasing numbers OF school children,
S1OO, 600 year would be needed for the construc-
uOn OF buildings. The yearly increase was from
15OO to 2, 900 children. To accommodate this ad-
ditton each year four new eight-rOOm buildings
would be needed. The Commissioners had asked
this year for 100000 for school buildings
The House committee had cut this amount
down to $4,000. The Senate COM
hnd Aw.1~n hi